New York Giants: Should Odell Beckham Jr. sit preseason out?

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. joked about skipping preseason games, but there may be nothing funny about the notion.

With the press of a single button on a Saturday morning, New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. generated headlines and caused reactions among fans and analysts across social media platforms. A fan simply suggested the 25-year old play in zero preseason games this upcoming August, something Beckham found agreeable while beginning his weekend by checking his @ mentions.

While we can’t read the mind of @stanbryan81, we’re assuming that individual was alluding to last August’s preseason game involving the Giants and Cleveland Browns. Beckham took a shot to the legs early into the second quarter of that contest, and that blow sidelined him through the start of the campaign and, ultimately, began a sequence of events that ended with the superstar needing ankle surgery following a subsequent injury in October.

Beckham is on the cusp of playing out the final year of his rookie contract, one that will pay him millions of dollars but also a deal that shortchanges such a special and unique talent. Unless the Giants place the franchise tag on him roughly one year from today — which is possible depending on what occurs over the next 12 months — OBJ will likely sign one of the most lucrative contracts ever awarded to a player at his position in 2019. He won’t be the highest-paid player in the NFL, but he’ll be financially set for life before the ink on the paper dries.

While Beckham and those in his camp are understandably envisioning dollar signs at the moment, it didn’t take long for him to realize his tweet was going to cause a stir among people looking to write stories and also fans who will have hot takes on the matter. Beckham, to his credit, tried to pour cold water over any would-be controversy, but the fact that you’re reading this sentence shows the damage was already done:

Pockets of Giants fans seemingly look for reasons to dislike or criticize Beckham. They lash out whenever he dances or performs a touchdown celebration, as if he’s the only member of the roster or only player in the league to commemorate scores with such antics. They get angry when his passion and emotions get the best of him during games. The “shut up and play football” portions of the fan base certainly exist, and they have called into New York sports talk radio to suggest the Giants should trade Beckham for whatever the team can get for his services this offseason.

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Even the hint that Beckham could consider looking out for No. 1 and skip preseason after what happened to him last summer will irate those who take joy in condemning his every move. These people will say he isn’t dedicated to the cause and cares more about money than he does about winning a Super Bowl with the Giants. They’ll compare him to the likes of Plaxico Burress and Terrell Owens.

They’re wrong, and evidence exists that shows they’re wrong. Beckham worked feverishly to return from lingering hamstring issues during his rookie season, and he labored to get back onto the field quicker than originally forecasted last fall. Truth be told, his stubbornness and will to win while wearing Big Blue ultimately cost him months off a season that could have been worth a fortune had he remained healthy and earned a contract extension from the Giants.

It’s worth noting head coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Dave Gettleman, neither of whom have worked with Beckham before recently joining the Giants, probably won’t let Beckham spend July and August on a beach somewhere. Both will want to see how he gels in Shurmur’s new offense and with the rookie QB the Giants will likely select in the 2018 NFL Draft. They’ll realize practice reps are important for building team chemistry and winning ways.

With that said, the question does have to be asked: How many preseason snaps does Beckham really need? He’s accustomed to playing on Sundays. He’s familiar with Eli Manning, who is scheduled to be his starting quarterback come September as of the posting of this piece. He’s a wide receiver, not a quarterback, meaning there’s only so much he’s going to have to learn while in a different offense. How much does preseason football benefit him at this point?

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Multiple noteworthy big-name NFL stars suffered injuries last season, and it impacted the quality of games and, in certain markets, fan interest. Beckham and other faces of the league sitting preseason drives and games out is inevitable regardless of what anybody has to say about the matter. Joking or not, Beckham’s tweet may be giving football fans everywhere of glimpse of what is to come sooner rather than later down the road.